Background: As practice leaders, frontline managers observe staff working, provide feedback and use organisational structures to improve staff skills and focus on service-user quality of life. This qualitative study explored the experiences and barriers for frontline managers providing practice leadership to staff in community services for adults…

In Ireland, the provision of behavior support services has developed following the introduction of Health Information and Quality Authority (2013) standards and the regulation of Positive Behavior Support (PBS) under the Health Act (2007). The purpose of this study was to explore what factors facilitate and act as barriers to implementation of…

Positive behavior support (PBS) is an evidence-based framework for improving quality of life and preventing challenging behavior that is often implemented in combination with person-centered practices in the intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) field. Recently, state agencies and organizations supporting people with IDD have adopted a…

Background: We aimed to identify key factors in implementing and adhering to positive behaviour support (PBS), provided by frontline staff, targeting challenging behaviours of people with intellectual disabilities living in residential group homes. Method: Using semi-structured interviews with 12 frontline staff members, we collected perspectives…

Background: Overprescribing of off-licence psychotropic medications, particularly antipsychotics, for challenging behaviours in people with intellectual disabilities without a psychiatric disorder is a significant public health concern. In the United Kingdom, the National Health Service England launched an initiative in 2016, 'STopping…

Community access and participation for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) depends in part on competent, committed direct support professionals (DSPs) who support people with IDD. With knowledge of the person's communication preferences, support needs, and environments where supports are provided, DSPs can support their…

Background: Intellectual disability organisations in the Netherlands are seeking to improve clients' quality of care by implementing methods that reduce involuntary care. This study described insights gained from sharing tacit and experiential implementation knowledge in Communities of Practice (CoP). Method: In a participatory research, managers,…

Special education advocacy programs support families to secure services for their children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Although research demonstrates the efficacy of one such program (the Volunteer Advocacy Project), its effectiveness when replicated by others is unknown. Replication research is critical to ensure that…

The rapid growth of inclusive higher education opportunities for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) has contributed to improvements in students' academics, employment, social, and independent living outcomes. However, many college programs lack a focus on functional literacy, a critical skill for success in…

The feasibility of a pedagogical approach--MultiSensory Music Drama (MSMD)--was investigated in collaboration with a teacher and a student with severe/profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (S/PIMD). Educational research for this group of learners is scarce, but research has suggested the potential of integrating music and multisensory…

Individuals with intellectual disabilities often lack access to appropriate sexual education, leading to negative impacts on their well-being and safety. Occupational therapists can play a vital role in addressing sexual education, health, behaviors, and community safety for these individuals. "The Talk" aims to empower school-based…

In England, the national mortality review programme for people with intellectual disabilities, the LeDeR programme, was established in 2015. The programme supports local areas to review the deaths of all people with intellectual disabilities aged 4 years and over. Each death has an initial review; if indicated, a full multi-agency review takes…

The implementation of technology in home-based services takes place in contextualised socio-material practices negotiated through interactions between a diversity of actors. Prerequisites for succeeding in this process are time and competence, and that use of the technology is experienced as meaningful, for both the support staff and the resident.…

Background: Concern about the poor care of some people with an intellectual disability has highlighted the need for systemic, large-scale interventions to develop a skilled workforce. Method: We outline how an implementation science theoretical model informed the development of a region-wide Positive Behavioural Support (PBS) Workforce Development…

With a growing need for specialized training for direct caregivers and support staff of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) affected by dementia, the National Task Group on Developmental Disabilities and Dementia Practices (NTG) developed a comprehensive evidence-informed Dementia Capable Care Training (DCCT). To…